Guided missile aiming and tracking device in form of self-contained unit



Sept. 16, 1969 A. STANGL ET AL 3,466,969

GUIDED MISSILE AIMING AND TRACKING DEVICE IN FORM OF SELF-CONTAINED UNIT Filed Oct. 29, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Arnold Stangl Dieter Herberhold Franz Pfister ATTORNEYS Sept. 16, 1969 A. STANGL ET AL 3,466,969

GUIDED MISSILE AIMING AND TRACKING DEVICE IN FORM OF SELF-CONTAINED UNIT Filed Oct. 29, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTO S Arnold Stangl Dieter Herberhold Franz Pfister b hwmm Y ATTORNEYS US. Cl. 89-1315 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An aiming and tracking device, for guided jet-propelled missiles, includes a periscope, and both the aiming device and the periscope are mounted on a rotating ring and extend through a common opening in an armor plate cover or top wall. The cover or top wall is circular, and the opening is located eccentrically of the cover or top wall. The device includes a pair of handles, one for adjusting the device in elevation and the other for adjusting the device in traverse. The two handles are arranged diametrically opposite each other with respect to the rotating ring, and their positions are interchangeable. The device may form part of a one man shelter including a cylindrical enclosure for the gunner, or may be mounted through the armored covering of an armored vehicle. When used as part of a one man shelter, the two handles have a first relative position and, when the device is used as part of an armored vehicle, the two handles are interchanged.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-impart of copending application Ser. No. 728,491, filed May 13, 1968, for Aiming and Tracking Device for Guided Jet-Propelled Missiles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The disclosure of application Ser. No' 728,491 is directed to an aiming and tracking device for guided, jetpropelled missiles operated from an anti-tank cover or armored enclosure. The aiming and tracking device includes a periscope, secured in a ring mounting, and extending through a common opening in the armored enclosure together with the aiming device which carries the missiles. The periscope can be traversed and elevated, in a known manner, either with the aiming device or independently thereof.

The objective of aiming and tracking devices of this type is to pick up a target from the armored enclosure, by means of a periscope, and, at the same time, to aim the missiles, in launching tubes or gun mounts on the device, at the target in such a manner that the missiles require, after launching, only a few guiding signals to correct their trajectory. The launched missiles are preferably guided according to the target-covering method whereby, in the particular case under discussion, the periscope, which is designed as a sight, is constantly aimed at the target. Thus, if there is relative movement between the target and the sight, the sight must follow the movement of the target.

Both stationary shelters and the armored enclosures of armored vehicles can be used as the anti-tank cover for the aiming and tracking device. While, with large stationary shelters, there are, as a rule, hardly any limitations as to available space and admissible Weight, such limitations are present, to a great extent, in small armored structures usually designed as one-man shelters, as well as in vehicles. These one-man shelters, designed according to modern tactical viewpoints, permit decentralization of fortified positions and provide pin-point targets which are very difiicult to hit. The shelters are usually used as a complete installation unit, either in prepared ground positions or, for example, on otherwise unarmored vehicles, such as speedboats. The possibilities for use of the shelters necessitate a low weight in volume, with a desirably thick armor, so that the interior, for receiving a gunner, must be kept as small as possible.

In correspondence with varying conditions and with small or larger stationary or moving armored enclosures, different aiming devices and tracking devices have hitherto been built for shelters and for vehicles, respectively. In addition, the design of the devices for vehicles scarely took into account, up to the present, existing weapons in vehicles and which have been housed, for example, in a traversing tower. For receiving these towers, the vehicles are provided with openings whose diameters are, as a rule, standardized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to aiming and tracking devices for guided, jet-propelled missiles and, more particularly, to such devices designed as a complete unit which may be installed, selectively, either in smaller stationary shelters with an armored cover or in unarmored vehicles, as well as being capable of installations in armored vehicles without the necessitity of making alterations.

The objective of the invention is to provide an aiming an tracking device, for jet-propelled guided missiles, which takes into account the different requirements and circumstances mentioned above. Starting from an aiming and tracking device for guided, jet-propelled missiles of the type disclosed in application Ser. No. 728,491, the problem is solved by providing, as a unit, the periscope, an armored cover plate secured on a rotation ring, a tubular support passing through this cover plate eccentrically of its axis of rotation, gun mounts or missile launching tubes fixedly connected with the tubular support outside the armored cover plate, and handles fixedly connected with the tubular support and the cover plate for operating the device in traverse and in elevation. The periscope, the gun mounts, and the two handles are selectively attachable in two mounting supports displaced by about the axis of rotation of the armored cover plate.

By providing a space-saving, compact unit of this type, which can be used in mirror-image fashion, it is possible to mount the aiming and tracking device in different types of armored vehicles, or in the armor of stationary shelters, without any special preparations, with the unit fitting into existing standard openings already provided during manufacture of the armor. The tactical requirements for small stationary or non-stationary anti-tank covers, designed as one-man shelters, with aiming and tracking devices for missiles, can be met by the invention arrangement with the same aiming and tracking devices that can also be used for vehicles. Due to the mounting of the periscope to extend through an opening in the armored cover plate eccentrically of the axis of rotation of the latter, the armored cover plate forming an anti-tank cover, a favorable utilization of the available interior space can be atttained. A gunner placed in such a one-man shelter, designed in a very simple, for example, cylindrical, form, guides the periscope, positioned eccentrically of the central axis of the shelter, in front of his chest without being hindered, during traversing and elevational movements, by the periscope moving within the cylindrical shelter.

When the aiming and tracking device is installed in an armored vehicle, it is of primary importance, however, to be able to turn the device, fixedly connected with the gun mounts or missile launchers, sufiiciently far about a horizontal axis to reach a reloading position. This is so that the reloading openings, providing in the anti-tank cover and which are necessary for the reloading operation, are kept as small as possible so as not to impair the effectiveness of the anti-tank cover more than is absolutely necessary.

Consequently, when the aiming and tracking device of the invention is installed in armored vehicles, the entire unit, before installation, is turned through 180 degrees about the traversing axis. However, the periscope, the gun mounts or missile launchers, and the handles for the traversing and elevation movements are arranged, in this case, on mounting supports which are likewise displaced by 180 relative to the armored cover plate. These mounting supports, displaced by 180, for the periscope, the gun mounts and the handles are provided in each unit, so that the units are suitable both for an installation adatped to the requirements of a stationary shelter and an installation adapted to the requirements of an armored vehicle, the changeover being effected by a simple and rapid interchange of the individual parts.

Since the aiming and tracking device can be used both for vehicles and for shelters, considerable expense is saved and the technical usefulness of the device is favorably infiuenced.

An object of the invention is to provide an aiming and tracking device for jet-propelled guided missiles in the form of a complete unit adapted for installation in either a stationary shelter of an armored or unarmored vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an aiming and tracking device which includes an armored cover rotatable about a vertical axis and having an opening through which the aiming and tracking device projects, this opening being eccentric to the axis of rotation of the armored cover.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device having a first handle, for traverse of a device, and a second handle, for elevation of the device, arranged at locations spaced 180 apart and being selectively interchangeable as to relative position, in accordance with the particular installation of the aiming and tracking device unit.

For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference is made to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an aiming and tracking device such as disclosed in application Ser. No. 728,491;

FIG. 2 is a somewhat schematic side elevation view, partly broken away, showing the aiming and tracking device installed in a stationary shelter in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a view, similar to FIG. 2, showing the aiming and tracking device installed in an armored vehicle, in accordance with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The aiming and tracking device, which is represented in simplified form in FIG. 1, comprises a tubular support 1 having roller-shaped bearing bodies either fixedly connected therewith or integral therewith. Bearing bodies or trunions 2 rest in bearing blocks 3 so that the entire tubular support can be turned, in elevation, about a horizontal axis. Furthermore, bearing bodies 2 extend completely through bearing blocks 3 to the exterior of the latter, where they are fixedly connected with gun mounts 37 which may serve as launchers to receive guided missiles (not shown). Bearing blocks 3 are worked out from a preferably circular cover plate 60, which has not been shown in FIG. 1, and are displaced or eccentric with respect to the center of this circular cover plate so that tubular support 1 is arranged eccentrically to the axis of rotation of plate 60, or the traversing axis. For the sake of simplicity, only a frame 4, forming part of cover plate 60, is shown in FIG. 1. This frame 4, with circular cover plate 60, is mounted on a rotation ring 5 for rotation through 360 about the vertical axis. Through trunions or bearing blocks 2, resting in bearing blocks 1 fixedly connected with frame 4, or integral therewith, tubular support 1 is constrained to follow this rotational movement. A handle 6 is fixedly connected with frame 4 by means of a mounting support 82, and is used to effect rotation of frame 4 and about a vertical axis, during traverse.

In order to perform traversing movement of frame 4, it is necessary to disengage a brake shoe 13 cooperating with rotation ring 5. Such disengagement is effected by a lever or handle 19 on handle 6, and brake shoe 13 returns automatically to its movement arresting position upon release of lever 19, thus locking frame 4 in a desired angular position.

A second handle 9 is connected wih tubular support 1 through a mounting support 83, and handle 9 is operable to swing tubular support 1 about a horizontal axis by virtue of the bearing bodies 2 rotatably mounted in bearing blocks 3.

The cover plate 60, of which frame 4 forms a part, is formed with an opening 10 between bearing blocks 3 so that tubular support 1, extending through Opening 10, can perform, without hinderance, an angular displacement about the horizontal axis and through a certain angular range.

Handle 9, provided for this elevation adjustment, is also associated with a brake shoe 13 operable by a lever or handle 19 and cooperable with a partial ring mount 8 fixedly connected with frame 4 through a mounting support 80. In order to adjust the device in elevation, brake shoe 13 must be disengaged by operation of hand lever 19, and the brake shoe is automatically returned to its locking position by releasing hand lever 19 to lock tubular support in the desired angular position of elevation.

As disclosed in more detail in application Ser. No. 728,491, a periscope 18, which serves a tracking device, is suspended in tubular support 1 in such a manner that it is constrained to follow all traversing and elevation movements of tubular support 1. As can be readily seen from FIG. 1, tubular support 1, and thus the gun mounts or missile launchers 37, as well as periscope 18, perform an elevation movement, when handle 9 is actuated, by rotation of bearing bodies or trunions 2 in bearing blocks 3 about a horizontal axis. However, traversing movement of the entire arrangement is effected by handle 6, by turning frame 4 on rotation ring 5. Since, as a rule, the elevating movement is not performed simultaneously with the traversing movement, frame 4 can be moved by using both handles 6 and 9 which preferably are arranged symmetrically to the vertical axis of rotation, which is the traversing axis about which traversing movement is effected.

A mounting support 81 is provided in frame 4 of cover plate 60, in the proximity of mounting support 83 for handle 9 for effecting elevation movement of tubular support 1. Handle 6, for effecting the traversing movement, can selectively be secured to mounting support 81. Similarly, a mounting support 82 is provided on frame 4 in the proximity of mounting support 82 for traversing handle 6. This mounting support 85 serves to selectively receive the segmental or partial ring mounting 8 for elevating movement of tubular support 1, and which is fixedly connected, in the embodiment shown in FlG. 1, with frame 4 through mounting support 80. At the same time, an

additional mounting support 84 is arranged on tubular support 1 adjacent handle 6 for selective mounting of handle 9 for effecting the elevating movement.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the invention unit, including its armored circular cover plate 60, as installed on a small cylindrical shelter 71. With respect to the firing direction of the shelter 71, the opening 10, formed eccentrically in cover plate 60, is arranged in front of the axis of rotation of cover plate 60. Thus, a gunner 63 operating the periscope and 18 and the handle 6 and 9 for the elevating and traversing movement, is not hindered, during aim ing and tracking movement, by periscope 18 which is displaced toward the front relative to the center of shelter 71. Gunner 63 sits on a swivel tool 73 rotating about the axis of rotation of cover plate 60, so that he can easilylook into periscope 18 even during rotation of cover plate 60. Cylindrical shelter 71 forms, with the invention unit, a complete unit which can be arranged, for example, in prepared cover holes, or can be arranged on or under the deck of a speedboat.

By contrast, when the unit is installed in an armored vehicle or tank 70, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 3, the eccentric opening 10 is arranged, with respect to the driving and firing direction of tank 70, behind the axis of rotation of cover plate 60. With this arrangement, it is possible to reach the reloading opening 61, arranged behind cover plate 60 in the vehicle armor, considered in the driving direction, by turning the aiming device in elevation or about the horizontal axis of gun mounts or launching tubes 37, and without the reloading opening 61 having to be formed with a large cross section. This is due to the rather steeply inclined reloading position of the gun mounts or launching tubes 37.

When the invention unit is installed in an armored vehicle 70, periscope 18 therefore must be turned by 180 relative to the position shown in FIG. 2. The gun mounts or launching tubes 37 must also be secured on the opposite bearing body 2, as compared to the mounting in the position shown in FIG. 2. This holds true also for handles 6 and 9 for effecting elevation and traverse.

The two ditferent schematically illustrated embodiments of the unit can be imagined best if the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, is turned through 180 as if a gunner wished to fire a missile backward relative to the firing direction. All supporting elements of the unit are left in this position, but all parts necessary for firing, aiming and tracking are secured in positions displaced by 180, relative to cover plate 60, so that the missiles can be fired forwardly in the principally locked position of the unit. Handles 6 and 9 must likewise be interchanged, so that the gunner always finds handle 9, for the elevating movement, at his left, and handle 6, for the traversing movement, at his right, independently of the type of anti-tank or armored cover.

With the invention arrangement of the aiming and tracking device combined to form an installation unit, and particularly due to the eccentric arrangement of the periscope relative to the vertical or traversing axis of the aiming device, and thus of the armored cover plate, the same unit can be connected selectively either with a stationary anti-tank cover of a shelter or with the anti-tank or armor cover of a vehicle. This is possible despite the different requirements for the unit for these two different types of installation, and only minor mounting operations are necessary and these can be performed rapidly.

What is claimed is:

1. In a combined aiming device and tracking device, for guided jet-propelled missiles, operable from an armored enclosure including an armor plate wall on which the device is mounted on a rotation ring for traverse, and including a periscope, means operable to support missiles to be aimed and fired, the armor plate wall having a common opening through which both the aiming device and the periscope extend, means operable to adjust the aiming device and the periscope, in elevation and traverse, as a unit, and means operable to adjust the periscope, in elevation and traverse, independently of the aiming device and relative thereto: the improvement in which said armor plate wall is circular and is formed with an opening therethrough which is eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of said armor plate wall on said rotation ring; a tubular support extending through said eccentric opening and having said periscope mounted therein; missile mounts fixedly connected with said tubular support outside said armor plate wall; respective handles for the elevating movement and for the traversing movement fixedly connected with said armor plate wall and with said tubular support; all of said components being combined to form an installation unit for installation on either a stationary shelter or a vehicle.

2. In a combined aiming device and tracking device, for guided jet-propelled missiles, the improvement claimed in claim 1, in which said periscope, said missile mounts and said handles are selectively attachable to said unit in either of two respective mounting positions displaced from each other by relative to the axis of rotation of said armor plate Wall.

3. In a combined aiming device and tracking device, for guided jet-propelled missiles, the improvement claimed in claim 2, in which said unit forms the cover of a cylindrical shelter having a normal firing direction; said periscope being positioned forwardly of the axis of rotation of said armor plate wall, with respect to said firing direction.

4. In a combined aiming device and tracking device, for guided jet-propelled missiles, the improvement claimed in claim 2, in which said unit is installed in a vehicle having a normal direction of travel and a normal firing direction; said periscope being positioned rearwardly of the axis of rotation of said armor plate wall, with respect to said direction of travel and said firing direction.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,971,437 2/1961 Surtees 891.8 X 3,024,704 3/ 1962 Even. 3,233,847 2/ 1966 Girsberger 244-3.12 3,293,985 12/1966 Stautf et al 89--1.815 3,396,629 8/1968 Faisandier 891.815.

SAMUEL W. ENGLE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 89-l.816, 40, 36 

